Citadel Marines and Sailors lend a helping hand this holiday season

Families in need will get a great holiday meal this year thanks in part to the active duty military students in The Citadel's Navy ROTC unit.

In cooperation with the Lowcountry Food Bank, Marines and Sailors at The Citadel are collecting non-perishable food items at several on- and off-campus locations starting today and continuing through Thursday, Dec. 20.

The Holiday Food Drive has been a staple of outreach efforts by Citadel active duty military students. Since the partnership with Lowcountry Food Bank began more than five years ago, the NROTC unit has collected more than 1,000 pounds of food and helped provide more than 60,000 meals to Lowcountry residents. In years past, Citadel Marines have helped the food bank deliver hot meals on Thanksgiving Day.

Anyone can donate a non-perishable food item at the following locations:

Mark Clark Hall lobby

Bond Hall lobby

Jenkins Hall lobby

Deas Hall

Naval Weapons Station Base Exchange

Naval Weapons Station Commissary

For more information email 2nd Lt. Brian Parker at
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or call the NROTC unit at 843-953-5193.

Active duty military students attend classes alongside the Corps of Cadets as part of the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) and Seaman-to-Admiral 21 (STA-21) programs. The programs allow enlisted Marines and Navy sailors to earn an undergraduate degree and an officer's commission upon graduation.

Approximately 18 Marines are enrolled in the MECEPs while another 38 Navy personnel are enrolled in the STA-21 program.

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